Letters to the Editor: Embarrassed over the treatment of women

I am a man. A male. These are my
thoughts, yet I hope that I speak for the majority of my gender here in
Cayman. 

A few weeks ago, I went to the
Estella Scott-Roberts Foundation kickoff of this year’s campaign,  ‘Silence Hurts’. The message behind the
campaign is to challenge all of us to speak up when we see injustice. I am
speaking out now at what I consider an injustice.

I have long spoken out and been
active in the struggle against domestic abuse and gender inequality. I serve as
chairperson of The Cayman Island Crisis Centre and was on the committee with
Estella that helped to start that needed organization. I have served as
president of two Rotary Clubs in this country. 
I was a member and chaired the Special Advisory Committee on Gender
Violence that reported to Cabinet. I am a male that has a daughter,
granddaughter, another granddaughter soon to arrive, three sisters and, of
course, a mother.

Tuesday night, I made a point of
listening to the TV broadcast of the honourable premier’s meeting in Bodden
Town, where he spoke and floored questions from the people. I will say here
that I am very critical of government and have been, not just this
administration, but of the previous one also. This is not about political ideology,
but about common decency. 

I was amazed, embarrassed,
disappointed, and ashamed of our leader. The honourable premier, when asked
difficult and pointed questions by two different females, referred to them with
belittling terms such as “sweetheart” and “darling”.  In my opinion, such statements, when
delivered in the context which they were done, are disrespectful, offensive,
condescending, gratuitous, and unbecoming, not just from the premier of a
country such as ours, but from any individual.

Our country has made amazing strides
over the years toward the goal of gender equality and towards the acceptance of
the worth of individuals of both genders and their ability and right to achieve
and contribute equally to the growth and fulfilment of the Cayman Islands.

I would ask all people, not just our
elected officials, to embrace the fact that as individuals we are equal,
regardless of gender, and as such deserve the respect we would ask for
ourselves. Until we respect the worth of all individuals, our country will
never realize
its full potential.

In the future, I would suggest that
the honourable premier, all leaders for that matter, address individuals in a
respectful manner and with respectful titles, not condescending pet names used
out of context.  Should the honourable
premier wish to right the wrong that was done, then I would respectfully
suggest that he publicly apologize to these two women, the same way in which he
publicly belittled and disrespected their value as persons who accepted his invitation
to the public to attend this meeting and ask questions.

Len Layman